After the withdrawal process of nomination papers, altogether 259 candidates from different political parties as well as independent candidates are in fray of 2023 assembly elections, scheduled to be held on February 16 for 60 assembly constituencies.

Addressing a press conference here at the conference hall of DM(West) on Thursday evening, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Tripura Kiran Gitte said that after withdrawal process, political party wise largest candidates are being contesting in the assembly polls from BJP with 55 candidates followed by CPI(M) 43 candidates and Tipra-Motha contesting in the polls with 42 seats.

Interestingly, the ruling alliance  indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) instead of 5 seats as per their alliance with BJP are contesting in six seats. Both BJP and IPFT fielded their candidates in  41- Ampinagar assembly constituency.

As per the seat adjustment policies between Left Front and Congress, the Congress is contesting 13 seats, Trinamool Congress (TMC) despite their rhetoric to form the next Tripura government are contesting in the assembly polls only in 28 seats, LF partners CPI, CPI(ML), Forward Bloc and RSP are contesting one seat each, TPP contesting in two seats, TSP in one seat, other unrecognized party in 7 seats and 58 candidates are contesting the assembly  polls as independent candidate.

Gitte said that  starting from issuance of poll notification on January 21st until the last day of submission of nomination papers on January 30th, altogether 310 candidates filed their nomination papers. During scrutiny of nomination, a total 19 papers were rejected mainly in absence of 10 proposer names, not submission of deposit money and 2 to 3 are rejected as substitute for political parties, said Gitte.

Till 3 PM of the Thursday and fixed period for withdrawal of submitted nomination papers, a total of 32 nomination papers were withdrawn by political party candidates and independent candidates, said Gitte and added that  among withdrawal of nomination, 13 candidates from CPI(M),  3 candidates from Congress, 3 candidates from Tipra-Motha and 13 more independent candidates withdraw their papers.

Now, 259 candidates are contesting the elections in 60 assembly seats, which was 297 in the assembly elections of 2018.

Out of sixty assembly segments, there are direct fights in three constituencies including in Barjala, Sabroom and Jubarajnagar constituencies and maximum candidates are contesting the polls from the constituencies like Bamutia, 6-Agartala, Town Bardowali, Dhanpur, Amarpur, Surma, Ambassa, Chawmanu, Dharmanagar and from Kanchanpur constituencies.